Luna back into the shadows, fumbled in the pouch around his neck, and took out the

Marauder’s Map. Holding it close to his nose he searched, and located his and Luna’s

Dots at last.

“We’re up on the fifth floor,” he whispered, watching filch moving away from

them, a corridor ahead. “Come on, this way.”

They crept off.

Harry had prowled the castle at night many times before, but never had his heart

Hammered that fast, never had so much depended on his safe passage through the place.

Through squares of moonlight upon the floor, past suits of armor whose helmets creaked

At the sound of their soft footsteps, around corners beyond which who knew what lurked.

Harry and Luna walked, checking the Marauder’s Map whenever light permitted, twice

Pausing to allow a ghost to pass without drawing attention to themselves. He expected to

Encounter an obstacle at any moment; his worst fear was Peeves, and he strained his ears

with every step to hear the first, telltale signs of the poltergeist’s approach.

“The way, Harry,” breathed Luna, plucking his sleeve and pulling him toward a

Spiral staircase.

They climbed in tight, dizzying circles; Harry had never been up here before. At

last they reached a door. There was no handle and no keyhole: nothing but a plain

Expanse of aged wood, and a bronze knocker in the shape an eagle.

Luna reached out a pale hand, which looked eerie floating in midair, unconnected

To arm or body. She knocked once, and in the silence it sounded to Harry like a cannon

blast. At once the beak of the eagle opened, but instead of a bird’s called, a soft, musical

voice said, “Which came first, the phoenix or the flame?”

“Hmm … What do you think, Harry?” said Luna, looking thoughtful.

“What? Isn’t there a password?”

“Oh no, you’ve got to answer a question,” said Luna.

“What if you get it wrong?”

“Well, you have to wait for somebody who gets it right,” said Luna. “That way

you learn, you see?”

“Yeah … Trouble is, we can’t really afford to wait for anyone else, Luna.”

“No, I see what you mean,” said Luna seriously. “Well then, I think the answer is

that a circle has no beginning.”

“Well reasoned,” said the voice, and the door swung open.

The deserted Ravenclaw common room was a wide, circular room, airier than any

Harry had ever seen at Hogwarts. Graceful arched windows punctuated the walls, which

Were hung with blue-and-bronze silks. By day, the Ravenclaws would have a spectacular

View of the surrounding mountains. The ceiling was domed and painted with stars, which

Were echoed in the midnight-blue carpet. There were tables, chairs, and bookcases, and in

A niche opposite the door stood a tall statue of white marble.

Harry recognized Rowena Ravenclaw from the bust he had seen at Luna’s house.

The statue stood beside a door that led, he guessed, to dormitories above. He strode right

Up to the marble woman, and she seemed to look back at him with a quizzical half smile

On her face, beautiful yet slightly intimidating. A delicate-looking circlet had been

Reproduced in marble on top of her head. It was not unlike the tiara Fleur had worn at her

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 622